Monday 4 August 2014

Everybody's Talking About: CAMILLA





It was the love for design as a child and a career in theatre that led Camilla Franks to launch CAMILLA in 2004. The brand bursts pure vibrancy, stand-out-from-the-crowd designs (more famously, the kaftan) thatshatters all boundaries into pieces. Think tribal warriormeets gypsy princessIt is this quirky and unlikely combination carried this one-of-the kind brand throughthe recent global downturn.

Today, she continues with her fearless use of the bolder than bold shades and prints which rapidly earned her the reputation as one of the most prodigious printdesigners in her native country, Australia - and beyond. Known as 'queen kaftan of Australia' this trend-settergets a seal of approval from Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Lilly Allen and Kate Hudson for her infamous kaftan as well as dresses and the sought-afterharem pants.


Her creations increasingly became firm fixtures inCosmopolitan, Grazia and Sunday Style magazine,never failing the give the pages that ultimate wow-factor.At Australian fashion shows, her in-your-face piecesdon't just beg for attention, they DEMAND it.


Her 2014 Spring/Summer collection, In The Name of theTribe, is a true testament to the branddisplaying strikingly-bold tribal inspired prints, where each design ispumping with DNA and each thread belong holds astrong and rich history.





The tribal-inspired theme follows through into her Autumn/Winter 2014 collection, God Created Woman. The bold statements come in the form of kaftans (of course!), wide-collared jackets and free-flowing dresses.Harem pants is just as prominent as her signature piece as it takes on and oozes extra sassiness and attitude.Each designs from the collection displays rich dark shades with striking gold majestic patterns, enhanced by hard-to-miss brass bangles, necklace and headgear.  


The Sydney-based designer also featured knitwear in her collection, which includes (a full-length 'bubbled', cardigan). This demure knitwear which takes inspiration from her in  2011 Autumn/Winter Woodstock-inspiredcollection, proving she can turn her hand to an assortment of knitwear - from good old cosy understated weekend cardigans to hooded long jackets and midriffjumpers sporting the louder-than-loud, hippy-esqueprints and patterns.


After a decade of undeniable success, it will come to no surprise that the kaftan connoisseur will be soon hailedthe 'queen lifestyle of Australia.' The 38-year-oldexpended her colourful empire to home ware, cushions, candles children ware and menswear in which all collections boasts that instantly recognisable trademark. 


The empire just keeps on growing. Camilla, who's aregular on Australia's Next Top Model and Project Runway, reaches another milestone by launching twostores in Melbourne - more recently in the David Jonesdepartment store in Bourke Street in April this year. Theeye-catching store sells, beach towels and loungewear, as well as the attention-grabbing clothing line and accessories.


The future is definitely looking brighter than bright for this Australian iconic designer and entrepreneur!









Guest post by Tracey Dawkins 

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